Are C-Sections Making Babies Sick?

A third of all infants in the U.S. are born through this invasive surgery.

While it can be a lifesaving procedure for difficult or high-risk births, many c-sections are now scheduled out of convenience, partly due to busy schedules and strict maternity leave policies.

While it's ultimately between a woman and her doctor to decide, there are some important points to consider.

But in the U.S., nearly 33% of all infants are born through this invasive surgery, more than double what the World Health Organization deems appropriate. On top of the estimated $2.2 billion in additional medical fees incurred from unnecessary c-sections, emerging research suggests that a non-vaginal birth causes newborns to miss out on exposure to bacteria that will influence their health throughout their entire life.

A person's microbiota is the complete collection of microbes present in the gut, skin, mouth, eyes, and genitals. Some of these microbes help break down food during digestion.